The 5 Unwritten Rules of Tight Yoga Pants

*Editor's note: Since Gabrielle's article stirred some emotions, we thought it would be a good idea to start a little survey. Let us know what you think, yogis! Scroll down to leave your vote.*

Yoga pants have become somewhat of a hype in the world of fashion in recent years. Sometimes it seems as if yoga pants are actually drawing more attention to yoga than any other aspect of the practice itself. It might be the images of celebrities sporting super tight yoga pants while holding a Starbucks cup in one hand and eight Gucci bags in the other. Or perhaps it's the disproportionately copious amount of blogs dedicated to pictures of girls in tight yoga pants (ever heard of girlsinyogapants.com?). Either way, yoga pants are a substantial part of our daily life. This is reason enough to examine what's good and what's not when it comes to rocking your own pair of them. But let's be honest here. Just because these pants looked stunning on Miranda Kerr the other day doesn't mean the whole world should go ahead and wear them with casual confidence. This might sound square, but like with any other fashion item there are a few unwritten rules that apply to tight yoga pants (inside and outside the ashram). Let's have a look at them, shall we?

Rule #1 - Check for Transparency and Holes

Before you go out and about with your new yoga pants you have to check whether they are see-through. Make sure nobody can see your underwear because it simply looks wrong and you might be embarrassed by people pointing out the teddy bear pattern on your undies. If you decide to wear white yoga pants, make sure your underwear is a different color. Also, whenever you buy and wear yoga pants, make sure there are no holes in the crotch area. This is especially important if your pants are black and your underwear (if you're wearing any) isn't.

Rule #2 - No Muffin Tops

You really want to make sure your yoga pants are not TOO tight. If the waistband is smaller than your waist, you'll get a muffin top which really makes your body look unfortunate. There are super nice yoga pants out there that have a broader waistband which prevents this problem quite effectively.

Rule #3 - Wear a Thong...or Nothing

This rule actually applies mainly to people who like to wear tight yoga pants outside of the ashram or their home. I haven't seen too many people violating this rule lately, but it shall definitely be mentioned. Yoga pants with grandma's panties...that just looks funny. When you go outside of your house or the ashram sporting tight yoga pants you really gotta make the effort and put on a thong. You might also consider going commando.

Rule #4 - Make Sure They Breathe

Some of the more fashion oriented manufacturers, for reasons that are not clear to me, are selling tight yoga pants that are made of materials that give your skin little or no air to breathe. When you buy a pair, make sure you don't end up with one of those un-ventilated plastic leggings because they are terrible for your skin and make you sweat like a pig (excuse my French).

Rule #5 - Guys Shouldn't Wear Them

Guys should not wear tight yoga pants unless they are ballet dancers.

With the growing amount of yoga practitioners in urban areas, especially women between 15 and 45, yoga clothes have made it beyond the ashram. And since for most yoga styles the ideal pair of pants is body-fitting and stretchy (having tight pants just makes it way easier to do poses) this particular style of pants is not only worn by yoga enthusiasts anymore. I personally really like wearing yoga pants when I practice but also at home and when I'm out. They're super comfortable and look beautiful.

*Editor's note: Since Gabrielle's article stirred some emotions, we thought it would be a good idea to start a little survey. Let us know what you think, yogis! Leave your vote below (it's completely anonymous!).*

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